John Cale on drones, Lou Reed, sexual abuse & Scottish independence | Channel 4 News

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Rehearsing his latest show, music pioneer and Velvet Underground founder John Cale talks about using drones on stage, his turbulent relationship with Lou Reed, the sexual abuse he suffered as a child and Scottish independence.
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[@TheUnclerickie]

John Cale showed a great deal of patience in this interview. He is a humble man.

[@Ronniedunn.]

Thank you for your support ❤

[@tommyg.9069]

Agree with you 100%. This interviewer was desperately trying to make a big splash during this interview by constantly trying to make John Cale emotional. The interviewer was constantly trying to get under Cale's skin -- he was an amateur trying to make a splash.

[@Z1cky]

Crap questions, great answers.

[@celticcounselling5929]

The interviewer really, really let himself down. John Cale, however, remains an extraordinary gentleman and artist.

[@jdrkz64]

when he says "we rehearsed every day for a year & a half in 1963" the pictures of the Velvet Underground are inappropriate because he's obviously talking about his experience within Theatre of Eternal Music (along with Tony Conrad, La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela, Angus McLise...) which was previous to his involvement with the VU

[@michaelevans830]

KGM: Why are you doing this? You don't need to be working. JC: Yeah I do. It's how to remain charming to your neighbours. [dumb question, great answer]

[@davidmatthews3131]

Well noted! 'Dumb question, great answer.' draft title of John Cale's biography. Second volume 'Don't bore us, get to the chorus.'

[@entropanto]

Oh, never mind the interviewer. What really matters is Cale's transcendent brilliance, which is quite evident despite the interviewer's efforts.

[@andreaneilcmc]

Cool guy! I don't know why but the emotion that he displayed when talking about Lou Reed really impressed me.

[@rosemarymills1671]

I'd thought Lou Reed died sober. I was disappointed to hear Cale say he didn't. He was disappointed as well. I still love Lou's music. Sobriety is tough. Glad JC came thru his hard times. He seems to be a real person, not arrogant or self-absorbed; somebody you can respect.

[@sugarjoe50]

Lou had cleaned up but returned to drink (moderately?) sometime in his later years.

[@NickSBailey]

A thumbs up for John Cale. Really dislike this rude and tedious interview style you see a lot these days. Just because he has such a boring unimaginative mind that he can't hear the merit of inventive music he thinks it must come from drugs.

[@dancrosby9991]

Cale's a fucking genius, always has been-always will be.

[@mainmaam]

This man has so much CLASS.

[@gillianbalfe2165]

Dreadful interview but JC came across as what he is. A sensitive talented man.Played with my ex many years ago and there will always be a place in my heart for his sentiments, many of which I share.I love his Welshness in the way in which I love the Proclaimers Scottishness.. Proclaiming in your accent is unique and very few performers have the courage to do it.

[@ericclay4700]

It would've been great to see a Lou Reed/Guru-Murthy interview. I admire how John Cale handled himself like a gentleman, but Reed would have shredded this guy and his obnoxious questions.

[@nickbrown3020]

+Eric Clay Lou Reed would just have tried to sabotage the interview. It's funny to hear it once, but ultimately it leaves no legacy. In this interview KGM gave John Cale time and space to speak. If it was used, it would probably have had the questions omitted and been presented as strain John Cale reflections. Plus, there's a fair chance that Cale would have had a hand in writing the questions - that's what interviews with musicians are like.

[@tinasavage6139]

' don't bore us, get to the chorus ' love it !

[@krisscanlon4051]

Wow his sad reaction to Lou's death was very strong. Complimentary to Lou/VU and his overall work process...stunning.

[@arthurpussy]

thankyou for being so honest and open

[@TheTestingGrounds]

Venus in Furs was referred to by Sterling Morrison as not sounding like anything before, or anything since. It is certainly a song which there was no blueprint for. However there are several songs you could say were the archetypal VU....Heroin, All Tomorrow's Parties, White light/white heat, Sister Ray, etc.

[@mrssmith1691]

He's not only a genius but a generous person - thinking of Nico especially.

[@ianrussell565]

John Cales solo work has influenced me more than any other artist around. Thanks for your contribution to music John. 💙

[@martharichler6672]

Asking an artist why they keep working is like asking a tree why it keeps growing.

[@markandresen1]

I agree that Guru-Murthy is a lightweight as an interviewer, but Cale handled it very well I thought. Always wanted to look like Cale in my youth...

[@Jah_Rastafari_ORIG]

The most interesting thing about that "tuning to the refrigerator hum" idea (to me) is that if one were to recreate it live, and you performed it worldwide, the pitch would be different in the two hemispheres, 60Hz vs. 50Hz. Gonna have to try that..... (I have a particularly old fridge)

[@BrownistKidUKnow]

I am really close on getting they're turnings. And I'm able to play herion while have it sound exactly the same the record did. The the tuning for heroin is a full step higher than run run run. So the tuning vary within each song

[@mcdaniels6188]

Interviewer assumes a lot, and tries to lead Cale in his questioning. Interviewer would be better served interviewing politicians and pop idols, not someone who was a pioneer of music.

[@ealing456]

Krishnan Guru-Murthy's really not very good at interviewing them either.

[@MimiYouyu]

@@ealing456 guru , thats ironic.

[@cosmicdrifter287]

``don`t bore us get to the chorus.``

[@HughTerry69]

Cale is a legend.

[@christophermoon1463]

Lou rarely sang a chorus lol. Everything he did was a chorus. At the age of 31, I'm finally appreciating John Cale more & more for what he did w/ VU; at least acknowledging it. Nice interview.

[@carltoeski]

What a great guy. John of course

[@shmackatrotsky5394]

one thing for certain, cale is an outright genius of song.

[@patsyparisi2620]

Cale is fantastic. That prat has no business interviewing him.

[@randalclarke5487]

I believe he got emotional when Lou was brought up 😑

[@rexmundi2237]

That's what Murthy is, a drone. Very intrusive, annoying, and drones on and on and on..Luckily Cale knows how to remain charming to his neighbours, and idiotic journalists.

[@robinpearson5167]

Great person, great music, etc, etc. Real individual and never compromised by any musical constraints. Pity about single camera interview - should have spent more time in the edit getting rid of the disparate background noise.

[@kirby711]

An icon like Mr John Cale being subjected to this dolt of an interviewer actually asking him if he's gotten over Lou Reed's death

[@josephmarchbank6992]

Interviewer- "We're a few days away from the decision of Scotland to stay a part of the United Kingdom, and I was wondering, as a Welshman, ..." WHAT?

[@ealing456]

What what?

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

​@@ealing456 what on earth would it have to do with it

[@RCrosbyLyles]

John Cale is awesome.

[@Ronniedunn.]

Thank for your support ❤

[@BenCDaugherty]

John is a very intelligent and well spoken musician! I admire him as a player too! Great bass lines and viola

[@franklinbell2995]

Cale is so great!

[@javodone]

What a great man.

[@captpogossian]

Lovely guy. Personally I thought KGM's interview was well balanced and respectful, asking difficult questions. How can you talk to JC without mentioning the Velvets and then, inevitably, Lou Reed? I would say that the first VU album is the most influential rock album ever made and still sounds radical today. Which is more than can be said for the bloody Beatles' music-hall act.

[@blackmore4]

+Pan oRoya I totally agree with what you say about how brilliant/influential the first VU album is but have to sigh at the Beatles bashing. Reed may have said he "never liked The Beatles" but Cale has often cited them as a Velvets influence. Personally, as a kid, I was equally excited on first hearing 'VU & Nico' and 'Revolver'.

[@Ronniedunn.]

Thank you so much ❤

[@PhillyBill59]

This was an awful interview to say the least. Not on Cale's part, but the stupid questions that get asked. This happens over & over again in the entertainment industry. I go way back on Cale, I did like some, but not all of the VU stuff. And his first 5 solo LPs thereafter were all very good, but the first two "Vintage Violence," and "Paris 1919," are two more in my collection that have withstood the test of time. Bill H. - an American in Taiwan

[@GetUpTheMountains]

This guy is as cool as you can get.

[@jenniferdonovan727]

So interesting, thanks....Yes a humble man.

[@tonystoakley5816]

He is a lovely man i could listen to him all day

[@MimiYouyu]

Silly thoughtless overly ambtious, unaware. interviewer. God God what a pillock. John is a great example of honesty.

[@SimonRobeyns]

i disagree, it's not a terrible interviewer, he asks questions with the right amount of interest & patience and doesn't interrupt john cale. Yes, he never got to expirience any of it, but you wouldn't enjoy watching a 75 year old interviewer either now would u

[@MegaSnippezz]

I think this interviewer is up there with Bashir interviewing Micheal Jackson. They both ask clueless and arrogant questions and get deep, creative answers.

[@stuszith]

interesting Interview!!!

[@dr.russhealy2206]

awful interview? why? the man is a genius. he was open and generous in his replies.

[@a1974h]

Captivating man

[@DeanMeredithMusic]

Brill video thanks.

[@bluebow68]

The interviewer might have made Mr.Cale more relaxed by being seated! Especially being asked about Lou Reed..Well done Ch.4 for this interview tho'..I'm impressed!

[@motherjuno]

John cale a true taffy gentleman , we salute you sir ...

[@xeshtaed]

He comes across as a very decent and intelligent person. Still sharp, still driven and talented.

[@judyneville616]

I have always found Cale extremely attractive

[@sarahwelty9223]

He was gorgeous when he was young in the mid/late 60s and in the seventies. Then the booze and substance abuse wrecked his good looks

[@lewismaddick1240]

I'd be grateful if someone could tell me what the name of the track is at the beginning

[@bonepaper]

i think it might be "sandman (flying dutchman)", the closing track on "shifty adventures in nookie wood". best guess! hope it helps.

[@lewismaddick1240]

+bonepaper I've only just seen this.. Thank you my friend

[@AlexxxInChains]

Hahahah the look on Johns face change from 7:05-7:10 was priceless, reminded me of a Nardwuar episode.

[@cigottro]

Keep on working on the things you love to, for your own mental health is key

[@reallyidrathernot.134]

legend

[@MSYNGWIE12]

John Cale remains charming and can move next door to me anytime... A most - to use a trite word, innovative musician and wonderful soul... Namaste from a fan in Ontario

[@adrianwilkinson1031]

I love John cale!!!

[@gvp999999]

Always thought Bashir was a useless interviewer, and this proves it.

[@4l4ddin77]

gvp999999 that's not Martin Bashir lmao

[@gvp999999]

4l4ddin77 I deny all knowledge of that post what I made.

[@4l4ddin77]

hahah that's Krishnan Guru-Murthy. (Total Bashir wannabe)

[@leastone9600]

Great to see JC at the Barbican 👍 Shame the interviewer knows nothing about his music 🫣

[@Elvis_Gonzalez]

Terrible interviewer. However, John Cale kept it together and answered insightfully despite the boring/disrespectful questions

[@Alexander-ll7gs]

What song is he playing in the beginning of the video?

[@GaFo-qb6up]

sandman

[@Alexander-ll7gs]

@@GaFo-qb6up thx

[@AndrogynousMIE]

Drones make NOISE. The people living there will not appreciate him fooling around and disturb the peace and quietness..

[@neonatalpenguin]

Do Channel 4 news employ any competent interviewers at all? Jon Snow's okay sometimes, but Krishnan Guru-Murthy and Jackie Long are abysmal. Props to Cale for mentioning the Rotherham sexual abuse, when Guru-Murthy was probably fishing for some kind of answer relating to 1970s hedonism.

[@Kowasi]

Venus in Furs, the definitive Velvet Underground & Nico track eh? I like the demo in which Mr. Cale sings rather than Mr. Reed.

[@andrewpires360]

Why does the interviewer bring up his child sexual abuse out of nowhere?

[@GaFo-qb6up]

Cale talked out it at length in his book

[@jaygrizzley]

i cannot believe he asked that

[@jaybowden2658]

Cale was obviously very uncomfortable with this guy's inane questions...

[@sukie584]

Cale has just seemed very sad ever since Lou’s death. A melancholy has seemed to settle in.

[@justinkinnear3775]

Really? We're not talking about a flat tire, its sexual abuse! A little empathy would have been appropriate. You can see Cale wince. Very uncomfortable.

[@Hornwiesel]

It's weird how they just stand in the middle of an empty square.

[@GaFo-qb6up]

its outside the concert venue. Cale taing a break from rehearsal

[@gilbertgilbert9030]

Welsh genius.

[@dirtycelinefrenchman]

DRONE! DRONE! DRONE!

[@timothyholly1289]

Tuned to a refrigerator? Wow.

[@daiorama3196]

Intelligent man of great depth and perception talks to flimsily briefed man brimming with superficiality.

[@rexmundi2237]

Velvets tuned to the drone from the refridgerator!? Why doesn't everyone do that?

[@BenCulture]

Rex Mundi Because it's chaotic and leaves you with a guitar you can't play along to records with?

[@rexmundi2237]

I was being facetious.

[@BrownistKidUKnow]

+Ben Culture I'm actually becoming really close to play along with the songs of the first album. Heroin is actually tuned a full step up.compared to run run run

[@ThornabyBloke]

hctee is bang on. Great opportunity wasted.

[@PatrickAlanMcL]

"It's how to remain charming to your neighbours." lol Terrible interview though, KGM can't help but make a situation awkward

[@shambobilla]

Definitely prefer him when he's taking the piss out of UKIP dinosaurs.

[@Broatch6]

Don't bore us get to the chorus

[@MrKmanthie]

John Cale is Welsh, not Scottish -FYI. Just so you don't get the wrong idea.

[@hctee]

What an awful interviewer.

[@hctee]

+hctee How dare he.

[@TheTestingGrounds]

+hctee So typical of a lot of British interviewers. Always want to know about the dark history of their subjects substance abuse. This guy is not very well versed in the Velvet Underground, that's for sure.

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

Yes he always comes across like that...but John Cale is charming and intelligent enough to get around his inane style of interview. If I were Channel Four I'd get rid...stupid schoolchild questions, as if he was interviewing someone on his own level instead of a living legend! I wish I was a neighbour of John Cale's...he's still a devastatingly sexy man!

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

jutubaeh lol! x

[@naarvmaan]

hctee I think he got good answers from mr cale tbh

[@Broatch6]

The Last of The Velvets

[@stuszith]

We Detuned Everything,,,,

[@auralepiphanies4055]

I cant stand this interviewer!

[@michaelm6948]

Interviewer just wants to hit his asinine media talking points.

[@tezveziz934]

I dont know how people can say this interviewer was bad. I thought there were some pretty relevant questions in there..............

[@SA-tl7fk]

hes not bad in this interview but he's far from tactful... it's usually best for interviewers to not be tactful and just get the answers the viewers want but idk maybe make an exception for cale lol? idk basically i think people are just annoyed because they love cale

[@alistairmunro6723]

Agreed, he didn't kiss his arse enough for their liking. I don't think Cale took any offence whatsoever

[@jonathandavies7462]

Da Iawn butty ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@jordywilliams]

john cale and sterling morrison..

[@Meddled]

Sterling Morrison looks a bit funny here.

[@BenCulture]

lionstanding Sterling Morrison and Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys died within three years of each other. I was obsessed with both of them, so that was pretty hard on me. Not quite like losing a real-life family memeber, but vaguely similar.

[@petersfds]

drain the swamp , the velvet underground

[@throatgorge2]

"we tuned to the refridgerator" but drugs WEREN'T involved? What a load of horseshit! own, up dude!

[@RotaryTotem]

It's a practical consideration and has nothing to do with drugs. Refrigerators emit their own audible tone and if you are playing a drone, you want to make sure you are not out of tune with the refrigerator's drone. I met the minimalist composer LaMonte Young at the New Music festival in Montreal in 1990 and he told me he always insisted that refrigerators were unplugged before any of his performances. He was completely sober.

[@jsilence418]

Ravi shankar was known to tune to a lawn mower he didn't do drugs .

[@stephenjohnson8776]

what a terrible interviewer

[@lubbi0156]

That interviewer is the definition of awful

[@nicholasevans502]

this interviewer wastes so many opportunities

[@orbzeit]

Interviewer is annoying

[@HDSPKSRecords-gi1ob]

Such a bunch of left wing talking points. Tiresome. Talk to him about music, inspiration, creativity, beautiful landscapes, whatever....Nope, Scottish independence and child abuse.

[@icebirdz]

TRUMP RULES...CALE GREAT music ESP : HELEN of TROY.....just missed the TRUMPtrain...------2024 MAGA